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Dental glossary
Understanding your care. The beginning of trust.
TU Dental created this glossary to help you understand treatment and make informed choices. We explain unfamiliar terms and treatment differences in plain language so you can prepare questions and have a meaningful conversation with your dentist.
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Tooth anatomy 18
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Tooth anatomy
Enamel
Enamel is the hard outer layer that covers the crown of the tooth. It protects the inner dentin and pulp, and also affects the color and light transmission of the tooth.
Tooth anatomy
Dentin
Dentin is the hard tissue beneath enamel and cementum that makes up most of the tooth. Its microscopic channels, called dentinal tubules, extend toward the pulp and are important in understanding tooth sensitivity.
Tooth anatomy
Dental pulp
Pulp is the soft tissue inside the tooth that contains blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue. Although it is often called the 'dental nerve', it is not made up of nerves alone.
Tooth anatomy
Occlusion
Occlusion refers to the relationship between the upper and lower teeth. We look at not only how your mouth is closed, but also how your teeth come into contact when you move your jaw and chew.
Tooth anatomy
Gingiva
Gingiva is the gum tissue that surrounds the teeth. It covers the area around the teeth and alveolar bone, and the shape of the gums between the teeth also affects the appearance of the gums when smiling.
Tooth anatomy
Canine tooth
Canines are the pointed teeth between the incisors and premolars. Their relatively pointed crown tips form the corners of the dental arch.
Tooth anatomy
Cusp
A cusp is a part that rises like a peak from the crown of teeth such as premolars and molars. Together with the surrounding grooves, it is involved in chewing food and engaging the upper and lower teeth.
Tooth anatomy
Occlusal surface
The occlusal surface is the surface where the premolars and molars chew food and come into contact with the opposing teeth. It has cusps and several grooves that distinguish it from the sides and front of the tooth.
Tooth anatomy
Palate
The palate is the roof of the mouth. It comprises the firm hard palate at the front and the flexible soft palate at the back, separating the oral and nasal cavities.
Tooth anatomy
Root canal
A root canal is a thin space inside the tooth root where the pulp passes. Each tooth has a different number and shape of root canals, and a single root may have multiple root canals.
Tooth anatomy
Mesial
The mesial direction is towards the middle line of the dentition. The side of one tooth that is closer to the center of the upper and lower front teeth is called the mesial side.
Tooth anatomy
Mesial and distal
Mesial and distal are a pair of directional terms that describe the position and aspect of a tooth. The side closer to the middle line of the teeth is mesial, and the side farther away is distal.
Tooth anatomy
Molar
Molars are the large back teeth. Their relatively broad chewing surfaces crush food into smaller pieces. Permanent molars are classified as first, second, and third molars.
Tooth anatomy
Dilaceration / curved tooth root
A curved tooth refers to a tooth that shows a distinctly curved shape during the process of forming the crown or tooth root. In dentistry, it is also used, especially in the context of describing severe curvature of the tooth root.
Tooth anatomy
Tooth eruption
Eruption is the process by which teeth that were developing within the jawbone and gums emerge into the mouth and move into a functional position. Both primary and permanent teeth go through an eruption process.
Tooth anatomy
Cementoenamel junction (CEJ)
The cementoenamel junction (CEJ) is where the enamel of the crown meets the cementum of the root. It is the anatomical reference separating the tooth crown from its root.
Tooth anatomy
Cementum
Cementum is the hard tissue that covers the surface of the tooth root. It serves as the basis for attachment of the periodontal ligament and helps support the tooth within the jawbone.
Tooth anatomy
Enamel pearl
An enamel pearl is a small, round deposit of enamel in an area, such as a tooth root, where enamel is not normally present. It is often discussed in relation to the area where molar roots divide.
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